Haggadahpalooza: The Unofficial Weirdly Perfect Passover Pop Parody Panoply 

By Martin Bodek (Author), Sari Kopitnikoff (Illustrator)

Reviewed by Michele Justic

The bright yellow pick-me-up for your Seder has arrived in the form of Haggadahpalooza. We all worked so hard to arrive at this point—the cleaning and cooking, shopping, and packing. And Martin Bodek works hard at writing humorous Haggadahs to help. (His wife may start to notice this pattern to avoid helping with Pesach cleaning.) Bodek has now published 7 humorous Haggadahs—almost a literary caffeine pill, to bring some levity and lighthearted joy to the night, to enhance the Seder experience.

Haggadahpalooza contains close to 60 song parodies from the 50s through today, of pop, Broadway, and “rock and or roll”—as a certain yellow cartoon religious leader would say. No jazz or country—you’re welcome. Everyone at the Seder will find a few favorites.

Like the little fingerdrops of wine for the 10 plagues, I’ll give you a few samples.

80s fan? Struck Like An Egyptian TTTO Walk Like An Egyptian by the Bangles is an obvious choice including the opening stanza:

“Rabbi Yehuda has a trick

A smart acronym, that you’ll love

Makkot mnemonic (oy Vay oy)

It goes: detzach adash beachav”

You can’t beat the Beatles for popular appeal and he includes a few options. For Hey Food, TTTO Hey Jude begins with:

“Hey food, gift from Hashem

In his goodness, feeds the whole world

Remember to thank Him for taking part

Sustaining the earth that He unfurled.”

Even Taylor Swift makes an appearance for Hallel. TTTO Blank Space, Thank Space includes the catchy chorus “This relationship forever,

Through the fire and all the flames,

There is no such thing as over, mm

Through the snow, wind, and the rain

You chose us from all the nations

We’re lovesick in the brain

Wandered through 42 stations

And we’d do this again

We’re stiff-necked, and we’re stubborn

We’ll drive You up the wall

Rebel at every turn, mm

With some chutzpah and gall

We’re the best choice of all nations

Who are all just insane

So this is a thank space, Abi (shter)

And we praise Your name.”

Bodek graciously gives special attention to his cover artist Sari Kopitnikoff who brilliantly brings to life the image of the inspiration for the book, Weird Al Yankovic, in the form of a Seder plate.

Instead of a 5-star review, I feel it more appropriate in the case of Haggadahs to give it a 5-spill review because this will soon become your most used Haggadah. 

Martin Bodek’s Haggadahpalooza, The Emoji Haggadah, The Festivus Haggadah, The Coronavirus Haggadah, The Shakespeare Haggadah, This Haggadah is the Way: A Star Wars Unofficial Passover Parody, and The Dad Jokes Haggadah are available for purchase at Amazon.com.